Emerging photographers across South Africa now have the opportunity to apply for the inaugural Santu Mofokeng Foundation Photography Prize, a new national award established to recognise outstanding photographic talent while honouring the legacy of one of the country’s most influential visual storytellers.
Launched in 2026 by the Santu Mofokeng Foundation in collaboration with Latitudes, the prize seeks to identify photographers whose work demonstrates thoughtful engagement with the medium and reflects the depth, sensitivity and critical awareness that defined Mofokeng’s own practice.
Applications are officially open and will close on 15 October 2026.
What the winner will receive
The successful applicant will receive a R100,000 cash award, alongside a range of opportunities designed to support the next stage of their creative career.
In addition to the financial prize, the winner will receive editorial support, an artist profile and opportunities for future presentations within Latitudes’ programmes, providing valuable exposure within South Africa’s contemporary art ecosystem.
Rather than focusing solely on financial assistance, the prize aims to invest in long-term artistic development by connecting emerging photographers with platforms that can amplify their work.
Who can apply?
The open call is available to emerging photographers living and working in South Africa who are independent practitioners.
Applicants must submit work that has been produced within the last five years, making the opportunity accessible to photographers actively developing their practice across documentary, fine art, conceptual and other photographic disciplines.
By launching the prize through a national open call, the organisers hope to uncover new voices whose work reflects originality, critical thinking and a meaningful engagement with photography as an artistic medium.
Honouring a lasting photographic legacy
Few photographers have shaped South African visual storytelling as profoundly as Santu Mofokeng. Throughout his career, his photographs documented the country’s social, political and cultural realities with remarkable empathy and nuance, leaving behind a body of work that continues to influence photographers today.
The new prize extends that legacy by investing directly in the next generation of image-makers, ensuring that emerging photographers have access to both financial support and professional opportunities as they grow their careers.
Photographers interested in applying can find more information and submit their applications through Latitudes before the 15 October 2026 deadline.
